During the fifth Test between India and England, Joe Root, who is one of the calmest cricketers going around, was upset with something Prasidh Krishna said to him. Both players were seen exchanging words with one another, and it took a bit of time for both parties to calm down. Recalling the incident, Prasidh said he did not understand why Root reacted in a certain way.
“I don’t know why Rooty reacted. I just said, ‘you’re looking in great shape’ and then it turned into a lot of abuse and all of that. I did go and speak to most of them – including Root. I asked him what happened. He said, ‘I thought you abused me’. I said, ‘No’, and he replied, ‘I actually just wanted to get myself going as well, so I had to pump myself up’,” he said on ESPNcricinfo.
“That’s what I love about the sport – that’s the way I’ve always played it. To see everybody, and especially a legend like him, putting it all out there and fighting for the team, even today, that’s something for everyone to learn from. You’re out there to fight, to win battles. Sometimes it takes a lot more than just skill; it takes a lot of mental grit to be part of that journey,” he added.
“I think it was just a competitive edge amongst us that was coming out, both of us are good mates off the field,” Krishna said on the day after the incident, speaking to the press. “It was just a little bit of banter, and both of us enjoyed it. This is what I am. I think I was just running in well, I enjoyed the way that I was bowling, maybe a wicket or two there also would have made things better,” he added.
“I did not expect him to get animated,” Prasidh admitted. “But like I said, I love the guy, he is a legend of the game, and I think it is great when two people are out there trying to do the best and to be a winner at a given moment,” Krishna added.
